WAM Song Of The Year 2016-17 winners revealed!

17 May

Author WAM

SYDNEE CARTER TAKES OUT #WAMSOTY GRAND PRIZE + 16 INCREDIBLE WA SONGS CELEBRATED

At the close of the 2016/17 WAM Song Of The Year Awards Party, we’re excited to reveal Sydnee Carter took out the coveted Grand Prize with her song When We Were Young. Being only 19-years-old makes this feat even more impressive, yet this wunderkind has been building up to this moment with a string of early achievements. On her CV already is previous Song Of The Year nominations, a stint on X Factor, a Telstra Road To Discovery Grand Finalist, showcases at Music Matters Live in Singapore, and a recent collab with Slumberjack blowing up the charts.

Independently and anonymously judged by a diverse panel of music industry experts from the likes of triple j, The Drones, Pendulum, Mix 94.5, RTRFM, X-Press Magazine, Perfect Pitch Publishing, TheMusic.com.au, Spotify, Nannup Music Festival, Pilerats, Radio Birdman and many more, the list of winners reflect the extraordinary depth of WA songwriting talent. Ranging from established leaders in their genres (including WAMAwards and past #WAMSOTY winners) to exciting revelations with big futures ahead, the winners list also included Dan Howls, Ralway Bell, Tobacco Rat, The Intenso Band, Riley Pearce, Nucleust, Harry Mitchell, The Brownley Gospel Singers, Codee-Lee, Rag N’ Bone, High Horse, Farraday’s Cage, Burdiya Mob, Macshane and Jere Sosa.

Over $40,000 worth of prizes was distributed over the course of the night, the Awards for one of Australia’s biggest songwriting comps debuting at the WA Maritime Museum in Fremantle. The night also impressed with sets from DJ Charlie Bucket, The Money War, Ben Matthews Presents LIVEWYRE and Dan Howls.

WAM’s CEO Mike Harris said, “WAM’s Song Of The Year competition keeps going from strength to strength, and the quality and depth of entries never fails to amaze me. Congratulations to all entrants, finalist and winners. I have seen Sydnee Carter grow as a performer over the past few years, and Sydnee’s Grand Prize win is a deserved testament to her talent. The strength of the applicants’ music demonstrates the importance of the competition and its integral position in the development of WA artists. Thanks as ever to those who support this important event, plus the sponsors for so generously helping WAM champion WA music.”

Senior Writer Services Representative Tenille Elkins from Major Partner APRA AMCOS added, “WAM Song Of The Year is a rare and important opportunity for songwriters and we’re very excited for Sydnee Carter and the other category winners. We’re committed to developing our members’ careers and this award is a wonderful way to showcase the wealth of talent in WA.”

FULL LIST OF #WAMSOTY WINNERS

BLUES/ROOTS

Sponsored by Clancy’s Fish Pub Fremantle | Studio sponsor Shanghai Twang Studios

WINNER: Dan Howls The Prince
OTHER NOMS: Carus Thompson Beach Fires; Jordan McRobbie Candle; Mark Turner Yes I Do; Michael Ellis Time For Change

COUNTRY

Sponsored by Country Music Club of Boyup Brook WA | Studio sponsor Fremantle Recording Studios

WINNER: Ralway Bell Caught In The Crossfire
OTHER NOMS: Belle Harvey Bridges Burn; Bill Lawrie Dalwallinu Hotel; Helen Townsend & Bill Chambers Promised Land; The Jackson Roses Can’t Find You

ELECTRONIC

Sponsored by City of Fremantle | Studio sponsor Tone City Recording Studio

WINNER: Tobacco Rat Infra
OTHER NOMS: Lilt Ghosts; Out of the Blue Vice; Shyguy Had It I’m Hiding; Lilt Wait No More

EXPERIMENTAL

Sponsored by PPCA | Studio sponsor Blackbird Studio

WINNER: The Intenso Band As Steadfast As The Ether Itself
OTHER NOMS: Gravy Murphy The World Is Your Moisture; Jameson Feakes A Window In Sicily; Samarobryn The Road Is My River; The Intenso Band A Small Margin of Terror

FOLK

Sponsored by Nannup Music Festival | Studio sponsor Artisan Music

WINNER: Riley Pearce Seasick
OTHER NOMS: Bill Lawrie Always Be The Bad Girl In This Town; Nicky Sandover Orange Tree; Riley Pearce Circles; These Winter Nights Heart’s On Fire

HEAVY/METAL

Sponsored by Spotify | Studio sponsor Sumo Sound

WINNER: Nucleust Of King & Tree
OTHER NOMS: Kimura Book Of The Dead; Shimmergloom Smithereens; St James Sirens Empires Fall; The Decline Can’t Have Both

JAZZ

Sponsored by The Ellington Jazz Club | Studio sponsor Crank Recording

WINNER: Harry Mitchell Ignacio
OTHER NOMS: Ben Matthews Esperanzish; Daniel Susnjar Afro-Peruvian Jazz Group Where Would I Be Without You; Harry Mitchell Gabba The Hut; Kate Pass Kohesia Ensemble Point Of Departure

OUTSTANDING INDIGENOUS

Sponsored by Noongar Radio | Studio sponsor Foxhole Studios

WINNER: The Brownley Gospel Singers The Man Of Calvary
OTHER NOMS: Desert Stars Ngurra Nyangatja (Our Home); The Struggling Kings Ardyaloon (Guligool); The Struggling Kings Oceans; Platform 2 Faultline

OUTSTANDING REGIONAL

Sponsored by APRA AMCOS | Studio sponsor Sonic Lolly

WINNER: Codee-Lee Heart Is A Compass
OTHER NOMS: Valentine Can’t Shake You; Kado Muir & LYC Crew feat. KJ I Choose To Be Free (The Mamu Tjiitjii Song); Julie Kember Gypsy Woman; Like A Thief Take Me Back

POP

Sponsored by Cool Perth Nights/Mojos | Studio sponsor Debaser Studio

WINNER: Sydnee Carter When We Were Young
OTHER NOMS: Lucy Peach Silver Tongue; Morgan Bain Summed It Up; Riley Pearce Outside The Lines; The Brow Circles

PUNK/HARDCORE

Sponsored by Perfect Pitch Publishing | Studio sponsor Templeman Audio

WINNER: Rag N’ Bone Pissy Flow
OTHER NOMS: Blindspot Thin Ice; Scalphunter Men With Square Eyes; Scalphunter A Lie They Call The Truth; The Decline Can’t Have Both

ROCK

Sponsored by Badlands Bar | Studio sponsor Poons Head Studios

WINNER: High Horse Carbon Copy
OTHER NOMS: Mt. Mountain Moon Desire; Our Man In Berlin A Lightbulb Mind; Rag N’ Bone Pissy Flow; The Money War Recall

SCHOOLS 14 & UNDER

Sponsored by RØDE Microphones | Studio sponsor Vision Studios

WINNER: Farraday’s Cage Meaning Of Life
OTHER NOMS: Hachi f i r e e s c a p e; Idgie All Those Lies Fall In; Lily Kate Empty Road; Toby Jonah Cinnamon

SCHOOLS 15 – 17

Sponsored by Diskbank | Studio sponsor Underground Studios

WINNER: Burdiya Mob Djarliny
OTHER NOMS: Belgrade Me; Charlotte Viney Young & Reckless; Megan Grace I Wanna Go Back; Siobhan Cotchin All Night All Right

URBAN/HIP HOP

Sponsored by Laneway Festival | Studio sponsor Shake Down Studio

WINNER: Macshane Meant To Do
OTHER NOMS: Bluntfield The Soap Box; Chiseko & Jcal Juice; Morgan Bain Summed It Up; The Brow Circles

WORLD

Sponsored by Fairbridge Festival | Studio sponsor Rada Studios

WINNER: Jere Sosa Taste Of Honey
OTHER NOMS: 56 Hope Road Justice; Barefeet Sojourns Run Run; Brassika Roll Your Eyes; Kate Pass Kohesia Ensemble Point Of Departure